Stacker apparatus



June 4, 1963 E. w. DE KONING STACKER APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1960 EdWin W DeKonI/y l l x I 1 x 1 x l n l l l x l l I 1 l l l u l ..1

INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,092,266 STACKER APPARATUS Edwin W. DeKoning,8205 SW. Hunziker, Portland, Greg. Filed July 18, 196i), Ser. No. 43,5123 Claims. (Cl. 2114-6) with the boards traveling sidewise on and withtheir ends on either side of the conveyer. Positioned above the conveyeris stack-supporting structure, operable to support a forming stack.Movable up and down and through the path of travel defined by theconveyer is hoist mechanism which may be actuated to elevate a series ofedgebutted boards from the conveyer and to move such boards into thebottom of a forming stack. The stack-supporting structure is constructedto enable boards to be moved up through the bottom thereof, but preventsthe return of boards when the -hoist mechanism is returned to a positionbelow the conveyer. In this way, successive layers of boards are addedto the stack from the bottom of the stack.

Thus, a general object of the invention is to provide an improvedconstruction for a stacker, wherein boards are added to the stack `fromthe bottom, and the weight of the forming stack is employed to promoteorderly positioning of boards in the stack as it forms.

When layers of boards are added successively to the bottom of a stack, aconstruction is possible wherein the place of addition to the stackautomatically may be maintained at a constant height. This -is becauseit is only the top of the stack that rises as the stack grows. Thus, bythis invention, it is possible to employ a ram or fluid motor foractuating the hoist mechanism having a fixed length of stroke. Whetherthe stack be high or low, the hoist mechanism moves the same distanceduring the addition of boards. struction of the stacker. A furtherfeature and object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a stackerhaving a hoist mechanism with substantially a fixed length of strokeproducing addition of boards to the stack.

ln an embodiment of the invention, plural lifters are', contemplatedspaced to clear the upper runs of belts in the conveyer when they areraised to lift a series of boards. Such lifters have bounding edges orsurfaces facing the feed side of the conveyer that define an uprightplane extending transversely of the conveyer. When the lifters are in araised position, these bounding edges function as a stop meanspreventing forward travel of boards on the conveyer beyond the feed sideof the lifters. An object of the invention is to provide a constructionwherein smooth-surfaced conveyer belts are used to transport. boards,and the hoist mechanism comprises lifters as described, whereby when thelifters are raised, further feed to the means stacking the board may be`automatically stopped, without actually stopping the conveyer. Onlowering the litters below the conveyer belts, forward movement ofboards is again permitted and any backlog which may have collected onthe conveyer automatically then moves into a feed position on thelifters.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel stacking apparatuswhich includes novel elongated holders providing the bottom of a supportstructure for hold- Obviously this simplies the control and con-Patented June 4, 1963 Mice ing a forming stack, such holders beinglocated on either side of the conveyer and being pivotable about axesparalleling the conveyer. These are pivotable between a loweredposition, wherein the holders deiine a support plane for a stack, to araisedV position, wherein they have swung upwardly and away from eachother. The holders are swung to a raised position by pushing a layer ofboards about to be added to the stack against'their under sides, and intheir raised position, such a layer may be moved beyond the holders andtake its place against the bottom of the stack.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stacker mechanismwhich also includes means for removing a stack from the`stack-supporting structure after it is formed, so as to free thestructure for the production of a subsequent stack.

Still another object is to provide a construction wherein the boardsautomatically tend to align themselves as they form a stack. The stackis shifted slightly up and down as boards are added thereto, and thismovement is used to produce an aligning action in the stack.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more fullyapparent as the following description is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed according to thisinvention, illustrating conveyer belts in the apparatus defining a pathof travel for boards and a support plane for these boards, hoistmechanism for lifting boards from the support plane defined by thebelts, and structure over the upper runs of the belts for supporting aforming stack;

FG. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. l withportions removed; and

FIG. 3 illustrates holders for a stack in the apparatus, showing them inone of the positions they occupy during the forming of a stack.

Referring now to the drawings, in the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, 10 indicates generally the frame of the apparatus,including verticals 12 and horizontal members 13 mounting hoistmechanism 14 provided for lifting boards into a forming stack, andstack-supporting structure indicated generally at 16 for supporting aforming stack. Also mounted on frame -10 is `an elongated belt conveyermeans 18, for transporting boards into a position wherein they may befed by the hoistmechanism 14 into stack-supporting structure 16.

Specifically, belt conveyer means 18 comprises plural, relativelysmooth-surfaced and laterally spaced belts 20 substantially parallel toione another and with horizontal upper runs 20a defining fa supportplane 4for boards and a path of travel for boards with the boardstraveling from left to right in FIG. 1. Boards, such as boards A21,travel isidewise on the conveyer and with their ends on opposite sides-of the conveyer. The feed ends of vthe belts 20 are trained overpulleys 22 isupported by a pulley shaft 23 on horizontals 24 of theframe, and .thebelts at the lofbearing end `of the conveyer meanstravelover pulleys 26 supported by a pulley shaft 27 and brackets 28 onverticals 12. Drive to the belts is by 'a motor 30 connected to shaft 27mounting pulleys 28 by a chain 3.2. In a preferred embodiment, the beltsnormally are driven constantly, and hoist mechanism 14 is operatedintermittently to raise a layer of -boards olf the support plane definedby the belts. During the time that. the hoist 4mechanism is operated,forward travel of. boards on the Neartheiofbearingend of the lconveyeris a stop or disposed adjacent the support plane delined by the upperbelt Iruns. Stop means 40 functions to index the forward..edge-.fofal-ayer lvof boards. A boardtraveling down the conveyerreachestheystop meansand is aligned by. this means: transversely. oftheconveyer, and its forwardn travel issgtopped Succeeding.boardstravelingdown .the conyveyerebacleup fromfthe tirstlboard. inthis alignedposition. -Ultimatelyaseries of edge-buttedjboardslis vformed in.preparationforlplacing anewlayertof boar-ds in a Stack.

:Hoist mechanism 14 comprises plural lifters, .indicated .at 46,..joinedbyxa .common :base48. The lifters have .substantially vertical vedges.for snrfacesSG. facingthe feed end 'of the belts, and dat, elongatedupper surfaces or edges.521.noniallybccupyingthe lowered position of*F.IGSaltand 2 Aandebelow thesupport .plane of the belts.

1 Theupperfedges of .the lifter-s define a common support Nplane forboards, which substantiallyparallels the support plane of the belts,when the liftersareLraised .to the AAraised Aposition indicated VbyAdashed lines in FIG. Zand .gabovelthe suppontplane of nbel-ts 20...Hoistmechanism also .comprises a ramon liuidrmot-or 54,-having a strokeof fixed length,j connected-to the-litters and operable when actuated toraiseandlower the.lifters.

lWithlreference .tothe support *structure` 16, 'this Vcornprises a-.pairl ofelongated holders 56, 57v paralleling the upper `runs of theVconveyer and disposed one on one side Y andlone on the other -sideofthe conveyer. These dene abottom-forthestructureand constituteavyieldable Y- holdingmeans.

Thus, the holders are mounted ifor .pivotal-movement-aboutlongitudinally extendingaxes on `shafts 58. Such-shafts-accommodatemovement of the holders from theglowered position illustrated toftheraised position shown in dashed lines in FIG.l 2. In moving .betweenllowered-and raised positions-lips or `lumbersupporting portions-60,V461 pivot inl arcs upwardly` and Aofboardselevated 1by-the lifters canpass between and beyond the holders. Gravity acts toreturn the holdersto `their-lowered position lafter boards-clear the same.

The loweredffposition isdetermined byl stops 62.

Alsopart--of the supportstructure -1-6-are walls-64, 66

extending--vertieallyupwardlyfrom the support plane of thel holders.V-Tlhese-oonine the endsf of boards forming the stacking-the apparatus.-As will be described, the

Smolders are constructed so that a tilt is imparted to astacksnomentarily asboards-areradded to its bottom, andAthisrtilttendstolshift boards toward wall 66 whichfunctions as anend-aligning wall. y

For moving a completed -stackvfromsupport structure -16,- an -upn'ght.pusherv means -SD-eXtendingin `a vertical --plane -fupwardly-ffromftheholders -and set. normally of 'I the holders isincluded. This is mountedadjacent .one

set of ends of the holders. Duringthe'forming of'a stack, pusher means'-80' may assistin guiding one set of edges -of boards-in the stack.After-a stack has beenY formed, pusher means I80'is shifted fromrighttoleft in FIG. 1, using ram orrnotor `86, which causes the stack to slideoffA of'holders56, 57 (wi-th' lips 60,l 61 -funetioningras VAguides)onto mechanism such as a conveyer k84 which portions 60,`4 61.Furthermovement of -the lifters upwardly ycauses these ends to pivot theholderslwith the lip pontions 'ofy Athe holders swinging upwardly. rWithsuch swinging of thek holders any stack resting on top of the lipportions also is'shifted upwardly.' It will be .abutment means 40. .Thisis mounted on the frame `and Icontacting stop means 40'.

noted thatV one of the lip portions is somewhat wider than the other.`Thus, on vthe about-to-beY-added layer moving upwardly, the shorter lipmoves completely to one side :of the ends of the boards in the layerbeing added to the stack before the longer lip does. This results in thestack above the lips being supported at one end only on one of the lips(the longer lip) and momentary tilting of the stack above the holders,as illustrated in FIG. 3. When the shorter lip moves free, the stackabove the lips is supported'at one end by the layer of boards beingadded, and at its other end by the longer lip. The tilt is toward wall66, and kthis tilt is relied upon to vpromote end aligning of boards.

Explaining the operation of the device, with motor `running, boards asthey are deposited, on belts 20 travel from rightto left in FIG. l, withthe lead board finally Succeeding boards pileup behind the leadjboard,on the upper runs of the belts.

When suicient boards ha've collected to completely cover upper surfaces52, ram 54 is actuated to raise the litters.

r'When the 'lifter-s lare ,shifted .jupwardly, their bounding edges 50'extend vertically upwardly from the support ,plane of the belts, andVthese .edges constitutey abutment means preventing forward travel ofboards toward the Yoffbearing end of the eonveyer beyondthese edges.

The lifters :are shifted'upwardly until after the boards carried thereonhaveY moved between and beyond the arcs of the holders, and thisYoccursiat the end of the stroke .of ram 54. With the boards on thelifters above the .'holders, .the holders fall back to their loweredposition.

Thelifter-s `are then to be returned to'their lowered position bycontraction of ram 54. After their top surfaces move below runs 20a,boards building up as avb-acklog on the runs may move forwardly, and thecycle may then berepeated.

It will -be vnoted that each layer of boards added to .the stack.requires the same extension lof ram 54. The

vlocation where addition takes place is always atr constant elevation. i

It is elaimed'and desired to secure by Letters Paten-t: 1. VStackingmechanism'for lumber comprising, a frame,

- means on the frame dening a path for boards with such boards travelingsidewise over land with ends on opposite sides of said path, opposed`elongated holders mounted above. and substantially paralleling saidpath, one on one side. and one .on the other sideof said path,rpivotmeans pivotally mounting 4the holders for movement between lowered .andraised positions aboutv axes Substantially Y- paralleling said path,said holders having lumber-supporting portions that project .towardseach other inv a lowered position for the holders and that support theends Vof boards in this position, said lumber-'supporting portionsswinging upwardly and away from each other in diverging Varos'on.pivotal movement of the holders from a lowered to amai-sed position,hoist means for lifting boards from said path yand moving -them betweenand then beyond said holders, said holders swinging from their loweredto their raised position to accommodate ,movement of boards therebetweenand being constructed to'return to their lowered. position after boardsmove therebeyond, and end-aligning structure extending verticallyupwardly from adjacent #oney ofsaid holders constructed to align theends of boards supported on said holders when such ends engage `thestructure, the lumber-supporting portions of said holder-s having -aconstruction causing boards resting on the holders,r to tiltrtoward saidend-aligning structure during movement ofthe holders from their loweredto their rai-sed position.

2. -In mechanism for stacking lumber, a frame, means on the frame`defining a path of travel for lumber, elongated opposed holderssubstantially parallel to each other and disposed above said path oftravel, said holders having lumber-supporting portions that normallyoccupy a lowered position and that in this lowered position extendtowards each other and denne la support plane for stacked lumber, pivotmeans mounting said holders for pivotal movement yabout longitudinallyextending axes and accommodating movement of said lumber-supportingportions lupwardly and away from each other :to a raised position, hoistmeans -for lifting lumber from said path of travel tand moving suchlumber between `and then beyond said holders, aligning structureextending upwardly from adjacent one of said holders, said holdershaving a vconstruction producing `shifting of lumber there- `on towardsaid aligning structure when they are raised lfrom their loweredposition, and means for removing lumber from said holders comprisingejector mechanism disposed above said holders and mounted for movementin a direction extending longitudinally of said holders.

3. In mechanism `for stacking boards, elongated opposed holderssubstantially parallel to each other for holding the ends :of -a layerof boards, means mounting said holders enabling inner portions of theholders to swing up and away from each other, means for shifting a layerof rboards upwardly from below said holders to Kabove said holders,aligning structure extending upwardly from adjacent `one of saidholders, said holders having a construction producing shifting of boardstoward said aligning structure when they are raised from their loweredposition.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,904,941 Midnight Sept. 22, 1959 2,924,051 More Feb. 9, 1960 2,933,207Edmonds Apr. 19, 1960 2,970,708 Watanabe Feb. 7, 1961 3,013,369 WilsonDec. 19, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,677 Norway Oct. 14, 1912

1. STACKING MECHANISM FOR LUMBER COMPRISING, A FRAME, MEANS ON THE FRAMEDEFINING A PATH FOR BOARDS WITH SUCH BOARDS TRAVELLING SIDEWISE OVER ANDWITH ENDS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PATH, OPPOSED ELONGATED HOLDERSMOUNTED ABOVE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING SAID PATH, ONE ON ONE SIDEAND ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PATH, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTINGTHE HOLDERS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN LOWERED AND RAISED POSITIONS ABOUT AXESSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING SAID PATH, SAID HOLDERS HAVINGLUMBER-SUPPORTING PORTIONS THAT PROJECT TOWARDS EACH OTHER IN A LOWEREDPOSITION FOR THE HOLDERS AND THAT SUPPORT THE ENDS OF BOARDS IN THISPOSITION, SAID LUMBER-SUPPORTING PORTIONS SWINGING UPWARDLY AND AWAYFROM EACH OTHER IN DIVERGING ACRS ON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE HOLDERSFROM A LOWERED TO A RAISED POSITION, HOIST MEANS FOR LIFTING BOARDS FROMSAID PATH AND MOVING THEM BETWEEN AND THEN BEYOND SAID HOLDERS, SAIDHOLDERS SWINGING FROM THEIR LOWERED TO THEIR RAISED POSITION TOACCOMMODATE MOVEMENT OF BOARDS THEREBETWEEN AND BEING CONSTRUCTED TORETURN TO THEIR LOWERED POSITION AFTER BOARDS MOVE THEREBEYOND, ANDEND-ALINGING STRUCTURE EXTENDING VERTICALLY UPWARDLY FROM ADJACENT ONEOF SAID HOLDERS CONSTRUCTED TO ALIGN THE ENDS OF BOARDS SUPPORTED ONSAID HOLDERS WHEN SUCH ENDS ENGAGE THE STRUCTURE, THE LUMBER-SUPPORTINGPORTIONS OF SAID HOLDERS HAVING A CONSTRUCTION CAUSING BOARDS RESTING ONTHE HOLDERS TO TILT TOWARD SAID END-ALIGNING STRUCTURE DURING MOVEMENTOF THE HOLDERS FROM THEIR LOWERED TO THEIR RAISED POSITION.